HK UCP
| HK UCP | |
|---|---|
| general information | |
| Military designation: | HK UCP, P46 |
| Developer / Manufacturer: | Heckler |
| Development year: | 2002-2004 |
| Manufacturer country: | Germany |
| Weapon Category: | Self-loading pistol |
| Furnishing | |
| Overall length: | 200 mm |
| Total height: | 135 mm |
| Total width: | 30 mm |
| Weight: (unloaded) | 0.85 kg |
| Sight length : | approx. 195 mm |
| Barrel length : | 130 mm |
| Technical specifications | |
| Caliber : | 4.6 x 30 mm |
| Possible magazine fillings : | 20 cartridges |
| Fire types: | Semi-automatic |
| Visor : | Open sights |
| Mounting system: | Picatinny rail |
| Lists on the subject | |
The UCP or P46 is a military pistol made by the German company Heckler & Koch with a caliber of 4.6 × 30 mm .
history
The development of the UCP goes back to the demand of the German armed forces for a handgun in the same caliber 4.6 × 30 mm as the newly introduced MP7 , which also comes from Heckler & Koch (HK). It was also suitable for other users who were already using the corresponding ammunition.
The MP7 / UCP combination was in direct competition with the Belgian FN P90 and its offshoot Five-seveN from FN Herstal , which follow the same approach with the 5.7 × 28 mm caliber .
The new, smaller calibers should enable lighter and more compact weapons than conventional submachine guns or pistols, while at the same time offering greater precision and penetration power. Based on the positive experience with the new caliber, the UCP was supposed to replace the P8 in caliber 9 × 19 mm , which was only introduced a few years ago . However, after extensive testing, Heckler & Koch found the new cartridge unsuitable for use in pistols .
technology
ammunition
The new 4.6 × 30 mm ammunition, due to its design as a slim bottle-neck cartridge, offers some advantages compared to conventional pistol calibers such as 9 × 19 mm, .40 S&W or .45 ACP with their round or flattened projectiles and short but wide cases - but also disadvantages.
Self-loading pistols mostly use magazines with 15 (9 × 19 mm) or even only 7 cartridges (.45 ACP). Due to the higher packing density of the 4.6 × 30 mm caliber, it is possible to store 20 rounds in a single magazine of the UCP.
Another advantage is the high penetration power with low recoil, since pistol ammunition is usually simply absorbed by "hard targets", in practice protective vests , without causing damage.
In addition, the low weight of only 6.5 grams per cartridge, or 2.0-2.6 grams per projectile speaks for the 4.6 × 30 mm, which weighs half as much as the 9 × 19 mm NATO (12 , 4 grams) cartridge.
A major disadvantage is that the 4.6 × 30 mm caliber is not yet a NATO standard , and with 5.7 × 28 mm there is a direct, established competitor product.
A disadvantage that ultimately terminates is that Heckler & Koch - after extensive tests - consider the new cartridge to be unsuitable for use in pistols.
features
The system is said to be a delayed recoil loader , details of the construction are not known.
Details:
- Control elements for left and right-handers
- Modular trigger
- Picatinny rail under the barrel to accommodate additional devices
The UCP cannot accept the MP7's 20- and 40-round magazines.
See also
- Five-seveN - Direct competitor product from FN Herstal
Web links
Photos of prototypes and description in English at World Guns
Individual evidence
- ↑ Pistol News from Heckler & Koch on pistol-training.com